Evening primrose oil is indicated in:

• Premenstrual syndrome symptoms (PMS)
• Cyclical mastalgia
• Lactation

Herbal and Nutraceuticals

Evening Primrose is a plant native to North America. It was one of the first medicinal plants brought back to Europe by settlers in the 16th century. Evening primrose oil (EPO) has been the subject of hundreds of scientific studies, which led to it becoming one of the most widely used botanical medicines today. EPO is sold in over 30 countries as a dietary supplement, drug or food. In 2000, Evening primrose oil ranked 10th of all herbal dietary supplements in U.S. food, drug and mass-market retail outlets.

Clinical studies have focused on its use in treating problems associated with essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency including premenstrual syndrome, atopic eczema, inflammation and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. EPO is relatively high in essential fatty acids (EFAs), particularly gamma-linolenic acid (GLA, 7-10%).

Evening primrose oil preparations consist of a clear, golden yellow, fixed oil extracted by cold expression or solvent extraction, from the seeds of Oenothera biennis L., which first occur during the second year of plant growth. Evening primrose oil is a biennial herb, infertile for the first year.

Improves EFA composition of plasma, erythrocyte, platelet lipids and α-tocopherol levels in non-diabetic persons and Type 1 diabetic patients; increases total fat and EFA content of mother's milk; affects fatty acid composition of serum lipids and adipose tissue in men with low dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) levels; helps maintain normal cellular structures and is the precursor of DGLA, which is the parent of the 1-series prostanoids and as a precursor of arachidonic acid, the parent of the 2-series prostanoids. In vitro: Cytostatic activity on malignant cell lines; suppresses cancer cell proliferation of human osteogenic sarcoma cells.